Wedding Photography

Wedding photography enjoys an important position amongst the various genres of photography. Photography, as a creative medium, has grown in leaps and bounds. From fashion photography to portrait photography, budding photographers can take their pick for a career choice that is closest to their personal preferences.

In the recent times, wedding photography has gone beyond the traditional close-ups and group photographs. With the increasing number of demands from the clienteles, wedding photographers now, have freedom of experimentation, which allows them to discover their creativity. So, what makes a good photograph? Well, the answer lies with the photographer itself! It is how a photographer perceives a subject and frames the visual into the most interesting angle, that is of utmost importance! Wedding photography requires a certain presence of mind from the photographer’s point of view and his/her ability to capture the action and special moments! With digital photography, things have only become easier! Here, we shall take a look at some important tips for wedding photography.

Portrait Photography

In portrait photography, also called portraiture, the focus of the photograph is the person's face. Portraiture involves depicting a human subject through the art of painting. The artist's function, though it was once open for debate, was both to capture the personality of the subject and to "improve upon nature." While this was so, the significance or prestige of the individual being depicted determined the level of exactness that was expected in the rendering of that individual's portrait. The search for an exact representation of the subject led Louis Daguerre to invent a mechanical method of capturing light on a flat surface. At that point, the photograph quickly became the medium of choice among those seeking and creating portraits. Early portraitists from eras ranging from the Roman Empire to the British Empire have attempted to capture everything from an idealized spiritual likeness of their subjects to exact copies of their physical specimens. While portraiture varied in every culture, and the standards differed even more, one uniform aspect of portraiture was that the artist was typically bound by the unwritten rules of their trade. Early photographers, however, were without the academic and commercial restrictions of their counterparts. As a result, their work was typically rich in artistic experimentation. Talbot and Bayard, two early photographers, were especially enthralled with the new medium and produced intimate, personalized work.

Nature Photography

Nature photography is one such hobby or profession one can have that can let you discover new things with each and every step you take. In fact, photography as such is always a learning experience and although you may learn new techniques as per the modern trends, the joy and excitement of clicking a new picture is always new ever time. Nature photography for beginners can be an exciting and a challenging hobby. The trick is to enjoy what you are doing and the results will automatically show in the frames. Beginners in photography need to follow some basics of photography that would help them capture better frames with ease. Help for beginners would best be in the form of some practical training but sometimes this may not always be possible for everybody. If you are looking out for some tips on nature photography for beginnersNature photography for beginners is not as difficult as it may seem. If you have that inborn creative streak in you, then finding interesting subjects can never be an issue for you whatever location you may be at. Nature offers us so many diverse things that it would require years to capture all this in your camera. Beginners need not worry about the location always, develop your skills in making your power of observation really strong. You may point your lens at birds or plants, buy remember you ought to know how much of what you see, should be captured on your camera. Avoid too much clutter in the frame, your subject may tend lose its identity in all the elements. Some ideas that may prove to be of some help for beginners can include maintaining a habit of sketching. This would help you to be accurate about the way you compose your photograph. This is not always required, but sketching can help you think about various angles and perspectives as well. In case you are camping out and come across a very interesting location, you can plan out the time and the various angles, which would add an interesting dimension to your photographs. Keeping clicking, as this is the only way you will learn.

Getting close to your subject can also give you amazing results. If it’s an animal you are about to photograph, it requires quick thinking. The right timing is the bottom line for good photographs! You cannot be thinking about the angles in such cases, with practice, you will be able to focus on how your picture should be composed, in a jiffy. You can get a larger than life image with a good close up shot. (As long as you have the required lens!) Sometime focusing on the eyes or having an action shot can make all the difference. Technique and patience is required to obtain a good frame. Standing at different levels can also give you newer angles to photograph your subject.

Glamor Photography

Photography is an art of translating the visual before us and giving it a whole new meaning. Photography as a profession has scaled new heights. With new techniques being introduced, photographers have more options today to try out various experiments and create new styles in photography.

Photography itself is an art and it completely depends upon the thinking of the photographer and how he uses his skills to translate the scene before him in the best way possible. A talented photographer would know how he could best frame the subject in many ways.

Who can deny the importance of photography in the world of advertising today! The beautiful compositions created by the talented photographers have taken fashion to such great heights. Photography has definitely come a long way from the darkroom techniques to the digitalized version. Even then, there are many photographers who still prefer the age-old technique of developing pictures on bromide paper in the darkroom. The joy of the picture developing and the effect of the hazy forms finally taking shape cannot be replaced by new techniques for some photographers!

Glamor photography is one of the many offshoots of photography that has completely revolutionized photography as a profession. Glamor photography has reached new levels with the advancement of techniques and of course, the use of software such as Photoshop. This type of photography requires many more factors to be able to obtain a good photograph apart from being an excellent photographer. Glamor photography is often thought to be on similar lines with fashion photography; glamor being the common factor. Even then, both genres are different in their own way.

Fashion photography is used mainly to highlight clothing and other such items connected with fashion. This type of photography is mainly used in the field of advertising to promote fashion-related products, ranging from cosmetics to clothing and snazzy accessories. Fashion photography is also used for creating amazing visuals splashed on the covers of the leading fashion magazines. Glamor photography on the other hand is less about clothing and more about the person/people being portrayed on film. Glamor photography highlights the model that remains to be the main subject. Scantily clad ladies on the covers of the magazine ‘Playboy’ can be the best example of glamor photography. Nudism is an integral part of glamor photography. This would also depend upon the subject and the concept being used to click the particular photograph. Concepts are developed as per the requirement of the client, sometimes; the concepts depend entirely upon the creative imagination of the photographer.

Fine Art Photography

Fine art photography is an entire subject in its own. The secret to creative photographs is not always in the meticulous planning and perfect co-ordination. To be a good photographer one would need to have a creative streak and also excellent powers of observation. Some of the secret tips to photography would remain in being in the right place at the right time. This holds true for nature photography. Be it fashion photography, nature photography, portrait photography or even photojournalism, the main undercurrent of all is to have an ability to visualize and capture the frame in the best way possible.

Fine art photography is also known as art photography. Although the basics of any kind of photography is to keep it simple, the images in fine art photography are carefully planned and are a result of the creative vision of any photographer. Many images of the fine art photography are like a work of art in itself. Fine art photography is on the same lines of abstract art. The result is always breathtaking and different from the way a common man would perceive a subject. Normal objects or simple scenarios are transformed into a beautiful canvas with the creative visualization of fine art photographers. Fine art photography has seen many trends from the olden days till date. Photography in itself is an art but fine art photography would require you to apply more thought and visualization skills to create a work of art. Of course, this would not always mean that these photographs have to be staged, though the current trends in fine art photography are on similar lines. Such staged photographs have gained prominence due to the works of Cindy Sherman and Gregory Crewdson.

Fashion Photography

Fashion photography is best displayed in fashion magazines like Vanity Fair, Vogue and Allure. It is dedicated to displaying fashion trends in fabric and otherwise, on the beautiful fashion models. Fashion photography has its own aesthetic, celebrating fashion enhanced by exotic locations and themes. The earliest show of fashion photography on record is the portfolio of a noble woman, Virginia Oldoini, the Countess de Castiglione in 1856. The first fashion model was photographed by Adolphe Braun, making him the first fashion photographer! The development of halftone printing enabled fashion photography to add color and spark to magazines. The French magazines Les mode and La mode practique were the first to capitalize on fashion photography.

Black and White Photography

Black and white photography is one of the most interesting forms of art, which is growing in popularity. Photography in itself is a vast subject and black and white photography is considered to be more challenging than color photography. The correct use of black and white in the compositions is necessary to create stunning images. With the advent of color photography many years back, black and white photography was almost on the backseat. However, with time, photographers have realized the amazing possibilities with black and white photography. The beauty of black and white photography lies in the fact that it has a timeless appeal. A normal composition can be turned into a beautiful visual depending upon the skills of the photographers. Black and white photography can suit can subject whether it’s used for portrait, nature, fashion or journalism. The trick however lies in the combination of various factors such as light or even texture.

Being successful while clicking black and white images would require loads of practice and skills as well. Here, we shall discuss some tips for black and white photography, which would help you to deal with various subjects and situations.

Aerial Photography

Aerial Photography:
Aerial Photography is photography that is shot from a considerable height above and apart from the ground. There are various ways in which aerial photographs may be taken. The photographer may be air-bound in a hot-air balloon, glider, parachute, airplane, helicopter and so on, or the camera may be a remote operated one attached to a kite, a rocket, a model airplane, a real airplane wing, even homing pigeons or the photographs may be taken from a satellite.

History of Aerial Photography:
Aerial photography became a possibility with the invention of the hot-air balloon, the airplane and the camera. Two early pioneers of aerial photography were Nadar and Fred Zinn, two separate individuals in separate periods of time. Nadar, in 1858, became the first person to take aerial photographs. A keen balloonist, he navigated his hot-air balloon over Paris, took photographs of the city and began a successful business selling the photographs to the general public. Fred Zinn was an aviator during the First World War, who flew first with the French Armée de l'Air, then with the American Lafayette Escadrille and then with the U.S. Army Air Service. He began taking taking aerial reconnaissance photographs of enemy positions while out on bombing missions – hot-air balloons were already being used for reconnaissance photography, but Fred Zinn's photographs, taken from his plane while flying directly overhead the enemy lines and sometimes swooping down low, were much clearer and detailed. Fred Zinn was decorated by the French government for his enterprising spirit and bravery.

Uses of Aerial Photography:
People got along well enough before aerial photography arrived on the scene, but, once it had, it became a matter of 'Well, if you could invent it, we can find some use for it." The foremost use of aerial photography is for providing topographic information, and this has made life easier for cartographers, engineers, site-planners and surveyors. Taking snapshots of the earth in this manner is called photogrammetry.

Types of Photography

Types of Photography

Fashion Photography:
This genre of photography is one of the most lucrative kinds. Photographs are one of the most effective ways of communication in the world of fashion. Here, photography is used to bring attention to the clothes and the accessories. Models are exclusively selected to showcase products in the best way possible. Fashion photographers today create the particular look, either in natural environment or one that is created in the studio. Often, these fashionable photographs find their way in the leading fashion magazines. These magazines cater to the niche crowd that loves to know the best in clothing and other fashion accessories.

Glamor Photography:
Glamor photography is also about fashionable visuals, however with a touch of difference. Glamor photography highlights the model in a different light rather than laying emphasis on the clothing or accessories. Often, nude images are also a part of glamor photography. These can be found on the covers of magazines like ‘Playboy’.

Advertising Photography:
Advertising photography is all about creating the right environment to highlight the product to be advertised in the best way possible. The photographers generally come up with ideas or visuals or at times, design houses also brief photographers with the concept required in order to obtain the specific results. These photographs are always planned in co-ordination with the advertising firm.

Still Life Photography:
Still life photography is all about capturing objects on camera that are deliberately grouped together to create a particular composition. This form of art requires the photographer to have an excellent sense of composition and lighting. A photographer in this case can create different textures and use objects that add interest to an otherwise normal composition.

Wedding Photography:
Wedding photography is a specialized field of this art form, which is dedicated to snapping the most memorable moments in various creative ways. A photographer can take his/her own approach towards this subject. While some prefer the traditional ‘posed’ ways, there are others who base their photographs purely on the actual moment. Photographers can also make these pictures fashionable with particular themes if agreeable with the client. There are many cases where such glamorous wedding photographs are captured especially in the studio. Today, many people are willing to explore new ideas, which open up many new creative avenues for experts in wedding photography.

Fine Art Photography:
Fine art photography is all about visuals that resemble a work of art. These are highly creative images that have an abstract appeal. Therefore, these photographs can be equivalent to an artist’s expression on canvas. This genre of photography is not restricted for commercial purposes but could be used for creative pursuits as well. A fine art photographer should have the ability to look beyond the obvious settings.

Nature Photography:
Nature photographers are very much sought-after by media houses. Works of these creative geniuses can be seen in magazines like ‘National Geographic’. Nature photography encompasses various other types of photography

Underwater Photography: Underwater photography is an interesting art form that explores a whole new world beneath the deep blue seas. It’s an extremely challenging task because a photographer should be equipped with all the knowledge about swimming and scuba diving to capture the best images while swimming in the blue waters!

Seascape Photography: Capturing nature in her many moods would be interesting for all lovers of the environment. A photographer who is dedicated completely to seascape photography should always lie in wait for the beauty of the sea to unfold. Here the concentration is mainly on capturing various moods of the ocean, at different times of the day or even seasons!

Cloudscape Photography: This genre of photography is completely dedicated to capturing various images of the cloud formations. Black and white photography in particular can be creatively used for this branch of photography.

Travel Photography:
Travel photography involves capturing images of a particular landscape or even people from different countries. A photographer who is dedicated to this type of photography captures various traditions and customs of a place.

Architectural Photography:
Architectural photography, as the name suggests, is all about the capturing images of different styles of architecture in different lights. This type of photography would require the photographers to be an expert in the technical, as well as the visual department.

Portrait Photography:
Portrait photography is all about capturing the mood of a person with an emphasis on the face and expression of a person. This style of photography need not only be about professional models, it can encompass any kind of a person. Family portrait photographs are very much in demand but this does not mean it’s all about a basic snapshot. There are many creative ways a photographer can use to make a portrait photograph look equally stunning!

Photojournalism:
Photojournalism is all about telling a story about a particular event or incident through a single photograph. This genre of photography is used mainly by publications to represent the latest news. In this case, the photographer’s visuals and the writer’s story should compliment each other. For example, if a writer is making a specific mention of a particular location in the story, the photographer can find innovative ways to capture the same on camera. Photojournalism can be further classified into –

Documentary photography: Here, the photographer has to present an image that best represents the incident being spoken of in true form. In this case, press photographers usually submit their images to the concerned publication but in recent times, press photographers from all over the world often display these at exhibitions as well.

Street Photography: This is all about capturing candid images of public places or even people in their natural element. A photographer in this case requires the knack to mingle between people and capture the best frames without being conscious of people around. Henri Cartier-Bresson used the technique of wrapping the camera inside his handkerchief. Of course, one also has to consider the legal issues, as there are many places where this type of photography is prohibited for security reasons.

Celebrity Photography: Celebrity photography is all about capturing celebrities from various fields. Various media houses use such photographs - from publications (magazines, newspapers) to the online media. In this case there are various ways of approaching this subject. In the first instance, celebrities are shot with meticulous planning in a studio or at an outdoor location where the styling is well planned for; this includes the clothes, make up and the accessories. Apart from this, photographers who specialize in celebrity photography also need to capture them at various functions or press conferences. Where as, there is a third type of celebrity photography known as the paparazzi. This is about capturing celebrities on camera without their consent. These photographs are exclusive and often fetch the premium price for all photographers.

Sports Photography: This genre of photography is dedicated completely to capturing the best images in action, for any kind of sports. A photographer in this case should have the knack to capture stunning images on camera with great speed. There are many photographers who have dedicated themselves completely to this segment. These photographs are mainly used by publishing houses and other branches of media.

Nude Photography:
Nude photography is about the depiction of the human body in nude form. These photographs are not meant for eroticism but purely for the study of the human body. Here, the face is not always the focal point and the compositions are stylized with experimentation in terms of light and backdrops.

War Photography:
War photography is about capturing photographs that depict the situations at war in terms of the people or the particular situation. Here, the photographers are always at risk and often the target of the warring groups.

Candid Photography:
Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of the first names that crops up in one’s mind when it comes to candid photography. This can be said to be one of the purest forms of photography, which does not include any staged situations. Candid photography is all about being spontaneous!

Fire Photography:
This form of photography would require the photographer to be equipped with protective clothing. The photographer in this case, clicks photographs of firefighting operations. This type of photography is useful for investigations.

Forensic Photography:
Also known as crime scene photography, here the job of the photographer is mainly to capture images for an accurate representation of the scene of crime. Here, a photographer will have to cover all the possible angles of the particular scene for investigation purposes. These images could be about any scene of crime or even accidents.

Secret Photography:
Here, it is the primary aim of the photographer to capture images of people without their knowledge. Professional photographers mainly use this type of photography for investigative purposes and unethical publication of the same can result in various legal issues. Here, the photographer can also conceal himself/herself from the concerned party including the camera being used.

Macro Photography:
This style of photography is completely about close-up images of the particular subject. This style is used particularly to capture details of organisms or nature that may not be visible to the naked eye.

Aerial Photography:
A photographer in this case, needs to be an expert at capturing images from an elevated position. There are various techniques used to obtain these images; a photographer can click these images from a helicopter or an aircraft and more recently, kites are also being used wherein the camera is attached to the kite to click photographs when the kite is in the air.

Headshot Photography:
This type of photography focuses mainly on the person’s face (mug shots) but is different from portrait photography. The images in this case are plainer in nature as the client would need to use these images purely for work purposes.

Food Photography:
Food photography is mainly in demand due to the rising needs from the advertising industry and publishing houses. It is the photographer’s skill that is required to make the group of objects look very interesting and appealing to the viewer.

Astrophotography:
Photographers in this case focus completely on capturing images from space. This could range from the planets to the stars or any other interesting formations. It is very difficult to capture a clear image of any incident in the starry skies owing to many technical problems a photographer may face. However, with the advent of new technology in this field, many innovative options are being added to make this type of photography easier for avid photographers dedicated to this field.

Child Photography :
In this case, the photographer should definitely have a knack to handle children to capture their best moods and moments! These types of photographs are used for advertising purposes or even for personal reasons.

Black and White Photography:
With the advent of color photography, black and white photography would have been passé. However, this is a medium that offers vast options for photographers. The timeless appeal of black and white photography can be used for any topic. Photographers in this case would need to use lighting and textures apart from composition and latest techniques to be rewarded with beautiful visuals.

Digital Photography:
Digital photography is all about photographers opting for the digital cameras over the traditional ways to click images that are faster to transmit. However, there are many photographers who still prefer to use film to digital cameras for better clarity and representation of light and dark.

Night Photography:
Photographers in this case completely specialize in night scenes. Due to the problem of minimum light, new techniques are being incorporated. A photographer can use artificial light or even a long exposure to capture clear and precise images.

These various types of photography clearly give an indication of the blossoming of this art form. Technology has made it possible to go beyond the obvious frames. Today, photography is about the combination of the expertise of the photographer as well as techniques. But in the true sense, an excellent photographer would only need creativity and strong powers of observation to be able to capture visuals that are truly beyond the ordinary.